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OHL Kitchener Rangers

Rieder Scores Winner as Rangers Down Owen Sound 5-4

January 27, 2012 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Tobias Rieder scored the game winner as the Kitchener Rangers defeated the Owen Sound Attack 5-4 on Friday night. John Gibson stopped 40 of the 44 shots he faced and was named the game's first star.

Owen Sound took an early lead in the first period. Gemel Smith fired a shot over the blocker of Rangers netminder John Gibson, his 20th goal of the season. Assisting on the play were captain Mike Halmo and defenseman Jay Gilbert.

The Rangers would jump in front midway through the frame, adding two goals on a five-on-three power play. With Kitchener applying heavy pressure, Jordan Binnington made a few big saves before Rangers captain Michael Catenacci tracked down the puck in front and lifted it over the sprawling netminder for his 16th of the year. Tobias Rieder and Andrew Crescenzi both picked up assists on the play.

Less than a minute later, with the Rangers still holding a man-advantage, Cody Sol launched a shot from the top of the face-off circle that flew by the glove hand of Binnington. The goal was the veteran blueliner's tenth of the year, assisted by Ryan Murphy and Radek Faksa. The helpers extended Murphy's recent streak: he has four goals and eleven assists in the team's last six contests.

Kitchener out-shot the Attack 16-9 in the opening 20 minutes.

Just past the halfway mark in the second period, Owen Sound evened the score, taking advantage of a turnover in the Rangers' zone. Daniel Catenacci shot the puck past Gibson glove side, giving him his 22nd of the season. Halmo picked up his second helper of the night, bringing his team-leading total to 58 points.

The Attack took the lead with a power play goal 13:30 into the second. Cameron Brace found Zach Nastasiuk open to the left of Gibson and he buried his eighth goal of the year. Also assisting on the play was rookie Joseph Blandisi, who has a recorded a point in four of his last five appearances.

Michael Catenacci's second of the game evened the score with less than three minutes remaining in the period. Max Iafrate found his captain with a cross-ice pass and Catenacci showed patience, getting Binnington out of position before firing high into the back of the net. The overage centre extended his recent point streak to five games, with four goals and two assists in that span.

Owen Sound led shots on goal in the second frame with a 12-5 advantage.

The Rangers jumped in front with four minutes remaining in the game. A flurry of chances in front ended when Andrew Crescenzi was able to jam the puck through for his 13th of the year. Assisting on the play were Sol and Faksa.

Owen Sound answered back quickly, as Daniel Catenacci pitched one in the top left corner of the Kitchener net just 51 seconds later. Assists were credited to Chris Bigras and Brayden Rose.

Tobias Rieder sealed the win with the Rangers on the power play and 22 seconds left on the clock. The goal was his team leading 27th of the season. The German winger has seven game winners this season, and has a total of eleven points in his last six games played. Crescenzi and Faksa were credited with the assists, extending the Czech import's scoring streak. He continues to lead all OHL rookies with 47 points, including one in each of his last seven.

The Attack out-shot the Rangers 23-12 in the final period of play, finishing the game with a 44-32 overall advantage. Gibson stopped 40 shots for his second straight win.

With the victory, the Rangers improve to 4-1 this season against their division rivals, and sit at 32-13-1-0. The Attack fall to 22-18-2-4, and sit in third place in the Midwest.

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